Embodying God's Love: Sacrifice, Forgiveness, and Selflessness

Devotional

Day 1: God's Love as the Ultimate Standard

God's love is not defined by human emotions or perceptions but by His divine example. This love is sacrificial, as demonstrated by God sending His Son for our salvation. It calls us to prioritize others above ourselves, reflecting God's love in our actions. To truly embody this love, we must look beyond our feelings and perceptions, aligning our actions with the selfless love God has shown us. This requires a conscious effort to put others first, even when it is challenging, trusting that God's love will guide us in our interactions. [45:18]

1 John 4:9-11 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you prioritized your own needs over others. How can you choose to reflect God's sacrificial love in a similar situation today?

Day 2: Rising Above Offense

Offense can be a significant barrier to spiritual growth and fulfilling God's will. It often arises from unmet expectations, leading to bitterness and division. However, God's love empowers us to rise above offense, forgiving as we have been forgiven and extending grace even when it is undeserved. This requires us to let go of our feelings and desires, choosing instead to prioritize the well-being of others. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's love, which is patient and kind, and does not keep a record of wrongs. [46:34]

Colossians 3:13 (ESV): "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Identify a person or situation that has caused you offense. What steps can you take today to forgive and extend grace, even if it feels undeserved?

Day 3: The Heart Behind Our Actions

God evaluates not just the outcomes of our deeds but the intentions behind them. True love is demonstrated when we act without expecting anything in return, trusting that God will reward our selflessness. Our motives should align with God's love, focusing on the well-being of others rather than personal gain. This requires a heart that is willing to serve and love others genuinely, without seeking recognition or reward. By doing so, we reflect the unconditional and sacrificial love that God has for us. [01:11:34]

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"

Reflection: Consider your recent actions towards others. Are there areas where your motives were not aligned with God's love? How can you adjust your intentions to reflect genuine love and selflessness?

Day 4: Embracing Sacrificial Love

Walking in love requires sacrifice, including sacrificing our feelings, temper, and desires. This selflessness allows God's love to be complete in us, enabling us to impact the world positively. Love is patient, kind, and does not keep a record of wrongs. By embracing sacrificial love, we open ourselves to the fullness of God's love, which transforms us and those around us. This journey demands humility and a willingness to let go of our need for control, trusting God to lead us in love. [01:17:12]

Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle to let go of control. How can you practice sacrificial love in this area, trusting God to lead you?

Day 5: Freedom from Manipulation

True love is free from manipulation and control. We must let go of the need to manage and manipulate others, trusting God to lead us. This freedom allows us to love genuinely and experience the fullness of God's love in our lives. By releasing our grip on control, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's love, which enables us to love others authentically and selflessly. This journey requires a heart that is willing to trust God completely, allowing His love to guide our actions and relationships. [01:22:53]

2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV): "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

Reflection: Identify a relationship where you tend to exert control or manipulation. What steps can you take today to release control and trust God to guide this relationship in love?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound and transformative power of love as defined by God, emphasizing that love is not merely an emotion or a feeling but a divine principle that requires sacrifice and selflessness. We began by acknowledging that God is love, and to truly know God, we must embody His love in our interactions with others. This love is not defined by our personal perceptions or emotions but by the example set by God through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

We delved into the concept of offense, highlighting how it can hinder our spiritual growth and our ability to fulfill God's will. Offense often stems from unmet expectations and can lead to bitterness and division. However, the love of God calls us to rise above offense, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to extend grace even when it is undeserved. This sacrificial love requires us to put aside our feelings, temper, and desires, choosing instead to prioritize the well-being of others.

We also discussed the importance of motives in our actions. God evaluates not just the outcomes of our deeds but the intentions behind them. True love is demonstrated when we act without expecting anything in return, trusting that God will reward our selflessness. This kind of love is a reflection of God's love for us, which is unconditional and sacrificial.

Finally, we were reminded that walking in love is a continuous journey that demands humility and a willingness to let go of our need for control. By doing so, we allow God's love to be complete in us, enabling us to impact the world around us positively.

Key Takeaways

1. God's Love as the Standard: Love is not defined by our feelings or perceptions but by God's example. True love is sacrificial, as demonstrated by God sending His Son for our salvation. This love calls us to prioritize others above ourselves, reflecting God's love in our actions. [45:18]
2. Overcoming Offense: Offense can block our spiritual growth and hinder our relationship with God. We must learn to forgive and let go of offenses, understanding that holding onto them only harms us. God's love empowers us to rise above offense and extend grace to others. [46:34]
3. The Importance of Motives: God evaluates our actions based on our motives. True love acts without expecting anything in return, trusting that God will reward our selflessness. Our motives should align with God's love, focusing on the well-being of others rather than personal gain. [71:34]
4. Sacrificial Love: Walking in love requires sacrifice, including sacrificing our feelings, temper, and desires. This selflessness allows God's love to be complete in us, enabling us to impact the world positively. Love is patient, kind, and does not keep a record of wrongs. [77:12]
5. Freedom from Manipulation: True love is free from manipulation and control. We must let go of the need to manage and manipulate others, trusting God to lead us. This freedom allows us to love genuinely and experience the fullness of God's love in our lives. [01:22:53]
** [82:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:30] - Opening Prayer
[40:04] - Tithes and Offerings
[43:53] - Introduction to Offense
[45:18] - Defining God's Love
[46:34] - The Parable of Forgiveness
[51:20] - Sacrificing Feelings and Temper
[53:37] - Sacrificing Your Way
[55:21] - Sacrificing Offenses
[57:23] - Exceptions to the Rule
[59:12] - The Problem with Offense
[63:46] - Consequences of Offense
[69:04] - Love Test
[71:34] - Motives Matter
[77:12] - Sacrificial Love
[82:53] - Freedom from Manipulation
[91:01] - Rising Above Offense
[93:58] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

"And we're going to define that a little bit deeper there because people define love in a lot of different ways. But how many of you know, it doesn't matter what we think love is or what we say love is. What matters is what the Bible says. What matters is what the Bible says love is. Amen." [00:45:04] (14 seconds)

"Love is not defined by what we think or how we feel. How many of you ever had somebody put you in a compromising situation and they say, if you don't do that, it must mean you don't love me. That doesn't necessarily mean that that's love, right? They can manipulate you into doing something that you don't feel right about." [00:45:25] (19 seconds)

"If you go in there and you look at what he says, this is love and this is not love, and the things that he talks about, it's all summed up as that love is a sacrifice. And this is what John was saying in 1 John 4, is that I'm going to show you what love is. Love is that God sent his one and only son to die for you." [00:50:57] (21 seconds)

"The God kind of love sacrifices its feelings. Why? Because love is patient and love is kind. Oh, we're real patient unless our feelings get hurt. And then there's no more patience. Y 'all are real quiet this morning. I must just be. You might need to find a bully. You might need to go find somebody who's a bully and just let them bully you a little bit." [00:52:17] (28 seconds)

"You're going to have to sacrifice your way. No, not my way. I want my way. I like my way. I've actually worked really hard about getting my life to a place where everybody around me gives me my way. Sacrifice your way. Begin to say it doesn't have to be my way or the highway." [00:54:21] (20 seconds)

"If it offends you, the Bible says that the love of God takes no account of a suffered wrong. When you take an account of a suffered wrong, you are offended. That's what it means. To be offended is to write it down in your heart and not let it go. No. To take an account. That has to be sacrificed." [00:55:47] (28 seconds)

"Motive is everything. The reason why you do what you do is everything. God views everything you do not only by the outcome. I know a lot of people that can get an outcome to look good on the outside. but if the motive is wrong it's not going to be really worth anything so God views everything you do not by the outcome or the true outward perception but by the inward motive." [01:11:27] (34 seconds)

"Love is a sacrifice 1 Corinthians 13 7 through 8 says love bears all things believes all things hopes all things endures all things most importantly love never fails if you're going to walk in the God kind of love you'll have to get comfortable with taking the back seat, putting others before yourself, even when they don't deserve it." [01:17:02] (28 seconds)

"When we go at love and good deeds with expectation of return or reciprocation from the person we're doomed for a letdown letdowns turn into offense and this is where I wanted to get to today and I don't have a long time to explain it but maybe we'll come back to it next week or the week I get back Dustin Dustin will be here next week but the Lord told me this several years ago when I was studying on offense he said offense is the snakebite of Satan." [01:25:10] (34 seconds)

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